RHNA - StanCOG

Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)

The Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) is a state mandated process whereby the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) quantifies existing and future housing needs for each region across the state and allocates each region's housing need in response to their projected population and household growth. State law (Government Code §65584) further requires the region's local governments to plan for enough housing to meet the region's need in the Housing Element of their General Plan. StanCOG, as the Council of Governments (COG), is required by state law to develop and adopt a methodology for allocating a portion of the RHNA determination to each jurisdiction within the Stanislaus region.

StanCOG is in the process of developing the 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Plan (RHNP), which will cover the planning period from 2023 - 2031. The Valley Vision Stanislaus (VVS) Steering Committee is tasked with making recommendations on the development process of the RHNA methodology and plan. VVS Steering Committee Members include a representative from each of the local member agencies, Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), StanCOG's Policy Board and Citizens Advisory Committee, and a building industry and environmental justice representative.

On April 14, 2022, HCD found that StanCOG’s Proposed Sixth Cycle Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) Methodology furthers the statutory objectives. HCD’s letter of approval provides a summary of findings related to each statutory objective described within Government Code Section 65584(d). Following HCD’s review, the StanCOG’s Policy Board adopted the Final Sixth Cycle RHNA Methodology on June 16, 2022. The Adopted Final RHNA Methodology will be incorporated into the Draft Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Plan.

On June 28, 2022, StanCOG released the RHNA Plan for a 45-day jurisdictional appeals period, which concluded on August 12, 2022. After the 45-day jurisdictional appeals period, no appeals were filed, nor were any revisions requested by any jurisdiction within the Stanislaus region. On August 17, 2022, StanCOG Policy Board adopted the Final RHNA Plan. The 45-day appeals period for the Draft Sixth Cycle RHNA Plan will commence on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 and end on Friday, August 12, 2022. Appeal requests are to be submitted with supporting documentation, to Hazel Choi, Assistant Planner, via email at gro.gocnats@iohch by 5:00 pm on August 12, 2022.